Lord or Legend Endorsements and Reviews

Endorsements

“Boyd and Eddy do not shy away from the tough historical, cultural, textual, and logical questions and their implications. Both those of a modernist and those of a postmodernist bent will find this a helpful clarification of issues relating to the truth about the historical Jesus.”
–Ben Witherington III, professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary

“Boyd and Eddy present a compelling case that the Gospels were composed using eyewitness accounts passed down from the earliest followers of Jesus. This volume should be read by anyone interested in the ongoing discussion of the reliability of the Gospels and the truth about the historical Jesus.”
–Mark L. Strauss, professor of New Testament, Bethel Seminary San Diego

“This accessible reference tool provides an overview that answers many of the major criticisms that circulate in both scholarship as well as in the popular media. Some of the issues included here are rarely treated elsewhere.”
–Gary R. Habermas, distinguished research professor and chair, department of philosophy and theology, Liberty University

Reviews

“Can we trust the Jesus narratives in the Gospels? Boyd and Eddy . . . affirm that we can. Both have written widely on biblical and theological subjects. Their experience shows in this marvelous study of the historicity of the gospels and the reliability of the biblical narrative. At times this book reads like a good detective story: it lays out the clues and the methods of evaluating those clues, and then draws conclusions based on the best evidence. From the most ancient witnesses, like Josephus and Irenaeus, to contemporary critics like Burton Mack, the authors ably rebut the critics’ claims of inconsistency and historical error. They further explore the value of the fantasy works of popular writers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Although the authors are certainly capable of turning out an academic text, this book is intended for the general reader, the average churchgoer who may be struggling with difficult questions about the Jesus story. It’s a fascinating and valuable work that merits a wide readership.”
—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“It seems that every few years a new generation of scholars sets out to prove the biblical narrative to be nothing more than a collection of fairy tales. The most recent assault on the Christian faith has dragged out into the public eye issues once relegated to the dusty halls of academia: Do modern editions of the Bible reliably transmit the original text? Was Jesus a historical person or the product of Hellenic myth? While these speculative attempts to undermine Christianity are nothing new to theologians, most Christians have had little exposure to the debate.

“In Lord or Legend?, authors Boyd and Eddy provide the reader with the background and historical data they need to understand the present discussion. By examining archaeological discoveries and early textural references, the reader is presented with 10 tests for historical reliability. Systematically addressing the charges leveled by secular scholars, the authors confront their arguments, providing a solid foundation from which to understand these repackaged controversies.”
—Christian Retailing